Moldova: Background & Geography

Introduction Moldova
Background:
 Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.
Geography Moldova
Location:
 Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
 Europe
Area:
 total: 33,843 sq km
water: 472 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
 total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline:
 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 none (landlocked)
Climate:
 moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:
 rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources:
 lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use:
 arable land: 54.08%
permanent crops: 12.1%
other: 33.82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 3,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
 landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment - current issues:
 heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
 landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

See Also: